Mark 3:20

A House Divided

20 Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.[a]

Mark 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 3:20

And the multitude coming together again
Either the multitude that were about the door of this house; insomuch that there was no room about, nor any coming near it, ( Mark 2:2 ) , or the multitude that came from different parts, and had thronged about him at the sea side, before he went up into the mountain: these understanding that he was come down from thence, and was returned to Capernaum, and was at Simon's house, flocked thither, in great numbers, to see his person, hear his doctrines, and observe his miracles;

so that they could not so much as eat bread;
the press was so great, and their importunities so urgent, either to hear him preach, or have their sick healed, that Christ, and his disciples, had neither room nor opportunity to eat some food for the refreshment of nature; though it was very necessary, and high time they had, especially Christ, who had been up all night, which he had spent in prayer; and had been very busy that morning in calling and appointing his apostles, and instructing them what they should do.

Mark 3:20 In-Context

18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
20 Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.
21 When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, "He's out of His mind."
22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul in Him!" and, "He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!"

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit eat bread, or eat a meal
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